The Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development Ghana (VAST Ghana) has called on the government to extend the hybrid excise tax structure proposed for spirits to all alcoholic beverages.

VAST Ghana said the approach, which combines specific and ad valorem tax rates, should cover beer, wine, cider and ready-to-drink alcoholic products to create a more consistent tax system and strengthen public health outcomes.

The organisation made the call after Parliament passed the Excise Tax Bill 2026, which it described as an important step towards using fiscal policy to promote public health and mobilise domestic revenue.

According to VAST Ghana, hybrid excise taxes can help raise the prices of cheaper alcoholic products and reduce consumption, particularly among young people and heavy drinkers.

It also urged the government to introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol as a complementary measure to excise taxation to prevent the sale of extremely cheap alcoholic products.

VAST Ghana further called for a review of the decision to remove the 20% excise tax on locally produced natural fruit juices, arguing that some products may contain high levels of free or concentrated sugars that could contribute to excessive sugar consumption and non-communicable diseases.

The organisation also recommended stronger product standards, mandatory free-sugar labelling and regular compliance monitoring to prevent manufacturers from exploiting tax exemptions.

VAST Ghana said a comprehensive health tax regime would help reduce harmful consumption while generating additional domestic resources for health.